Claremont fan court school

I see Claremont offers came out today…

He’s come from kings Wimbledon, which is regularly in the top 3 schools in the country…
https://www.fhs-sw1.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Times-Top-400-Independent-Schools.pdf

I had to read pages and pages until I fout this! Thank you so much for this info - this is what I was looking for!

That's great then

As per some of the other comments on this thread: there are some badly out-dated views of Claremont Fan Count being expressed (they were out-dated even in 2022!).

It took <10mins of research to confirm that the "new" headmaster started in 2018: Will Brierly was the former deputy headmaster and head of academics at KCS Wimbledon (#12 in the country).

Search for interviews with him or his own social media posts: he's regularly stated that he is NOT trying to recreate KCS's academic culture, but the school has been slightly more selective that it has in the past, but he wants parents to focus on "value added".

With that in mind, I'm not sure how much more selective they are being, but the results are already showing: they're a fair way behind some other schools in the area (Kingston Grammar / Surbiton Girls), but they already have GCSE rates ahead of St George's Weybridge!

A-Levels students would have started around the same time that he did, so the scores are probably reflective of a less selective approach 6 years ago.

My kids are a long way from A-Levels, so I'm fine with placing more weight on the GCSE results.

Exam results 2023 (Claremont Fan Court)
A Level A & A* grades
39.69%
GCSE level A & A grades*
55.00%
https://www.best-schools.co.uk/schools/1331/claremont-fan-court-school-esher

Exam results 2023 (St George's College Weybridge)
A Level A & A* grades
54.00%
GCSE level A & A grades*
50.20%
https://www.best-schools.co.uk/schools/2330/st-george-s-college-weybridge

St Johns don't post their GCSE results, but their A-Level results are between Claremont Fan Court and St George's:
https://www.best-schools.co.uk/schools/2363/st-john-s-school-leatherhead

The more recent, younger academic scores are backed up by the more anecdotal "evidence" I gather is no longer the shoe-in it used to be!

I have no idea what you are talking about?! Having visited a number of schools in the area, teaching space and sports facilities are vastly bigger and better than the likes of KGS, Surbiton etc.

Just an interesting addition to the discussion. The pupil numbers have expanded a lot very rapidly since the new head took over. The senior school is 120+ per year group now so there is a feeling that the pastoral care the school sells itself is dwindling.
Fees have also just gone up, yet the school is still seriously lacking decent sports facilities and teaching space is a squeeze.

Good to hear -supporting the individual so important to achieve their best - glad to hear it went well for you

Thanks

Thanks for this

This sounds a bit outdated

No

Think this is a bit outdated

Did you see the 2022 A level results?

A-Levels results 2022

Epsom College 62% A*-A
Claremont Fan 62% A*-A

Can I ask is classroom discipline (horrible word) good? My child was at a less academic school previously and didn’t like the distraction of kids playing up etc. I take your point on teaching quality though at v academic schools - I think it depends how “on it” the head is. But I’ve had negative experience too in a v academic setting - teachers behind the times in approach. No-where is perfect just about trying to get the balance right. He’s v bright but needs understanding as he’s anxious. I heard Claremont was poor academically say 5 years ago but that is pre the new head who seems to be changing things without going extreme? Is he bringing in lots of new staff?

@BleuNoir my DC have left now so I know what they did 6 years ago. It might not be what they do now so if I was you I'd ring admissions and ask how they set/stream Years 7-9. At GCSE there will also be streaming but probably done differently ie separate science GCSEs or Combined Science and those who do the lower level papers in other subjects.
Both my DCs have SEN and they were very well supported and encouraged to do their best - I'm really proud of what they have both achieved.

Oh, and the top 2 (or possibly 3 in future years as the cohort becomes more able) have to do the “further” maths GSCE.

It’s really unhelpful to call a school “good” based on its results. Of course KGS is going to get better results than Claremont because the cohort there is more able. I went to a top grammar school - lots of crap teachers but amazing results as we were all able. I have many friends in teaching and they all say that many of the best teachers they’ve ever worked with are in bog standard comprehensives where they have to work hard and very ably to get kids to a 4 or 5 at GSCE. From what I’ve seen, the teaching at Claremont is very good. My son, who is very discerning (and able) feels the same. There is no doubt that the more able kids are pushed - and moreover inspired. The teacher went into the A-level syllabus briefly during a year 9 biology lesson off the back of a student’s question. And, schools like Claremont want kids to do as well as possible, knowing the grade scrutiny that goes on in an environment where schools are all competing for students.

@Arisaig1 in our experience the pastoral care was excellent. And yes both GCSE and A level results are on the website.

Just popped on to say that I’m delighted CFC seems to have massively improved. I went decades ago (so basically a different school but same name and location) the reputation was very much for dregs who couldn’t get in anywhere else. Plus it was still CS then so the odd bright child whose parents were CS. I remember being devastated to overhear my DM agreeing with another parent that it was the perfect school if your child was thick but you wanted a nice location for sports day.

I’m still researching the place and trying to get under the skin. I wasn’t blown away by the open day - but that’s not everything. The member of staff I spoke too seemed v nice and well informed. Pastoral care is v important to me. But do they publish exam results?